112 SECONDARY RESULTS 



point (100) represents the proportion of the total net returns 

 received by each interest in the year 1913-14. 



If the rise in the value of the total net returns during 

 the years 1914-15 to 1919-20 had been shared in the same 

 proportion as previously by all three interests, the graph 

 would consist of a straight ' curve ' following the 100 line, 

 whilst if there had been any changes in the relative shares 

 received these would be indicated by variations above or 

 below this line. It is of interest to note that the increase 

 in the value of the net returns went almost entirely to the 

 farmer until the setting up of the Agricultural Wages Board, 

 and that the effect of the Orders of the Board was to restore 

 the workers' share in the distribution practically to its pre- 

 War proportion of the total net returns. Thus, the position 

 at the close of the year 1919-20 was that the landlord had 

 received no share of the increased prosperity of agriculture, 

 the worker had received a share about the same as that 

 previously received from the industry, and the farmer had 

 received an increase proportionate to his former share plus 

 the amount which would have gone to the landlord had the 

 same rate of distribution continued. The figures show that 

 wages and rents, particularly the latter, adjust themselves 

 but slowly to changing conditions in the results of farming 

 business, and incidentally they may afford some con- 

 solation to the Appointed Members of the Agricultural 

 Wages Board. 



The four examples given above are included for the 

 purpose of indicating the value of farm accounts and records 

 of every kind in the study of the economic problems of the 

 agricultural industry, and to suggest methods for their use. 

 More data of this kind are urgently needed ; in fact, it may 

 be asserted that the divergencies of opinion on many matters 

 of importance in the organization of agriculture, as well as 

 the difficulty of arriving at a reasoned national policy, are 

 due almost entirely to the lack of statistical information, 

 particularly such as can best be obtained by scientific 

 book-keeping. 



